Students will create a three-dimensional model from a two-dimensional topographic map. They will use the model to trace the path that a water droplet takes across the watershed and into the watercourse, and will describe the relationship between the...(View More) physical features of the watershed and the location of human activities. Resources needed vary, depending on the kind of model that is to be build, but may include: a topographic map of the local watershed, tracing paper, tempera paints, paint brushes, cutting knife or saw, plaster of Paris or paper maché, plasticene or other waterproofing, and corrugated cardboard, plywood or other media from which to cut layers representing each of the contour intervals. This activity is part of the Ground Truth Studies Teacher Handbook, which provides more than 20 activities to build student understanding of global change and remote sensing, and includes background chapters for teachers, glossary, and appendices. Resources needed vary, depending on the kind of model that is to be build, but may include: a topographic map of the local watershed, tracing paper, tempera paints, paint brushes, cutting knife or saw, plaster of Paris or paper maché, plasticene or other waterproofing, and corrugated cardboard, plywood or other media from which to cut layers representing each of the contour intervals.(View Less)

Students will compare aerial photos of their area from the past with current photos, noting differences and then conducting ground truth investigations to determine what happened. Finally, students will use the information they gather about past...(View More) changes to make predictions about the future, and consider how past choices have impacted their current environment and how their own choices now will impact the future. Resources required include a pair of aerial photographs or satellite images taken several years apart, a ruler, and graph paper. This activity is part of the Ground Truth Studies Teacher Handbook, which provides more than 20 activities to build student understanding of global change and remote sensing, and includes background chapters for teachers, glossary, and appendices.(View Less)

Students will examine two satellite images of their local watershed taken at different points in time and use this data to learn about changes in the watershed, particularly in land cover. Next, they describe how these changes have had positive or...(View More) negative impacts on water quality in the watershed. This activity is part of the Ground Truth Studies Teacher Handbook, which provides more than 20 activities to build student understanding of global change and remote sensing, and includes background chapters for teachers, glossary, and appendices.(View Less)

Students describe the interaction between the river, its quality and the lives of people in the watershed where they live. Students will design a questionnaire, interview local people, and compile the oral histories collected to establish the recent...(View More) history of a river and its watershed. Suggested equipment for the activity are notebooks and audio or video recording instruments. This activity is part of the Ground Truth Studies Teacher Handbook, which provides more than 20 activities to build student understanding of global change and remote sensing, and includes background chapters for teachers, glossary, and appendices.(View Less)

In this open inquiry activity introducing concepts of remote sensing, students will discuss and research different invisible phenomena. They will then test and verify the existence of selected invisible phenomena by using measurement or detection...(View More) devices. Depending on the phenomena being investigated, some of the following supplies are suggested: thermometer, light meter, decibel meter, telescope, gas sensors, filters, anemometer, and/or radon testing kit. This activity is part of the Ground Truth Studies Teacher Handbook, which provides more than 20 activities to build student understanding of global change and remote sensing, and includes background chapters for teachers, glossary, and appendices.(View Less)

In this investigation students explore how resolution affects information content on remotely sensed images, relate remote sensor resolution (pixel size) to information content, and gain an understanding of the information content of different kinds...(View More) of remote sensing imagery. Students examine aerial or satellite images of the area around their school,interpret remotely sense images, and verify them using ground trotting techniques. Magnifying glasses (2x, 5x and 10x power), aerial photographs, plant identification manual, and a tape measure are needed supplies. This exercise is part of the Ground Truth Studies Teacher Handbook (GTSTH), and is a follow-up investigation to the Digital Faces activity of the same resource. GTSTH provides more than 20 activities to build student understanding of global change and remote sensing, and includes background chapters for teachers, glossary, and appendices.(View Less)

Through a field trip along a local water course students will conduct a visual survey to discover information about local land use and water quality. They will document their findings with mapping and compilation of a river profile and use this...(View More) initial reconnaissance to raise questions about local land use or river water quality that require investigation. This activity is part of the Ground Truth Studies Teacher Handbook, which provides more than 20 activities to build student understanding of global change and remote sensing, and includes background chapters for teachers, glossary, and appendices.(View Less)

Students will use remotely sensed images and topographic maps to classify land cover types in their watershed. A field trip to specific sites will allow the students to ground truth cover types found on the remotely sensed images and extrapolate...(View More) that information to other sites not visited. Analysis of this data will allow students to explain the relationship between cover types, water flow, and water quality. Supplies for this lesson include a topographic map and satellite images of the area to be studied, acetate or tracing paper, and grease pencils. This activity is part of the Ground Truth Studies Teacher Handbook, which provides more than 20 activities to build student understanding of global change and remote sensing, and includes background chapters for teachers, glossary, and appendices.(View Less)

In this introductory climate change investigation, students will set up at least one temperature monitoring station at the school and take daily minimum and maximum temperature readings. These local average temperatures can be compared to the global...(View More) average temperatures for the period of 1854 to 1990 found in the appendix, and compare their data with datasets used by scientists that detect global climate change. Supplies needed for this investigation include a minimum-maximum thermometer, hand-held thermometers, and data sheets. This activity is part of the Ground Truth Studies Teacher Handbook, which provides more than 20 activities to build student understanding of global change and remote sensing, and includes background chapters for teachers, glossary, and appendices.(View Less)